Restore Act takes a step forward

Published: Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 8:16 p.m.

Before 2010’s catastrophic Gulf of Mexico oil spill had even been stopped, some had started talking about where the money from the eventual fines would go.

That conversation is continuing, with a group of Gulf Coast lawmakers pushing for most of it to go to the states most affected by the BP spill.

The federal Restore Act would make sure that 80 percent of the fines that result from the spill be set aside for projects along the coast.

Those projects could be for economic development or for coastal restoration, both of which could help offset some of the damage done by the huge spill.

That damage will not be undone, no matter how much money is directed to the coast. However, if some good can come from the fines, it could lessen the environmental and human tragedy the spill still represents.

“We need to secure the fines from the Deepwater Horizon disaster for Gulf Coast recovery before a settlement is reached, and this amendment starts that process,” said U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, after the measure was passed Thursday by the U.S. House of Representatives. In the Senate, U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., has promised to champion the effort.

While the bill is still far from a sure thing, its passage by the House is a step in the right direction.

And that is good news for the people of the Gulf Coast, particularly those of south Louisiana, where restoration projects could have a direct impact on our future ability to live here.

The amount of money is likely to be significant. The fines are expected by some to range from $5 billion to $20 billion. No formula for how much of the 80 percent would go to each state has been formulated, but the distribution will surely benefit Louisiana, where so much of the spill’s damage was concentrated.

Louisiana’s share of the money could be used as a down payment on a long-term coastal-restoration plan, one that will likely require tens of billions of dollars to achieve real progress on protecting the people along our coast from future storms and rising waters.

The outlook for the larger bill — a measure laying out energy policy for the nation — is bleak. The White House has promised a veto even if it is passed by the Senate.

However, the larger story for Louisiana is that the amendment has been met with success. That means it could be attached to some future bill or perhaps survive a vote on its own.

The battle for the money will not be quick. Nor will the fight to protect and rebuild Louisiana’s coast.

In the meantime, it is good to know that there are encouraging signs of valuable progress.

Editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper, not of any individual.

<p>Before 2010's catastrophic Gulf of Mexico oil spill had even been stopped, some had started talking about where the money from the eventual fines would go.</p><p>That conversation is continuing, with a group of Gulf Coast lawmakers pushing for most of it to go to the states most affected by the BP spill.</p><p>The federal Restore Act would make sure that 80 percent of the fines that result from the spill be set aside for projects along the coast.</p><p>Those projects could be for economic development or for coastal restoration, both of which could help offset some of the damage done by the huge spill.</p><p>That damage will not be undone, no matter how much money is directed to the coast. However, if some good can come from the fines, it could lessen the environmental and human tragedy the spill still represents.</p><p>“We need to secure the fines from the Deepwater Horizon disaster for Gulf Coast recovery before a settlement is reached, and this amendment starts that process,” said U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, after the measure was passed Thursday by the U.S. House of Representatives. In the Senate, U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., has promised to champion the effort.</p><p>While the bill is still far from a sure thing, its passage by the House is a step in the right direction.</p><p>And that is good news for the people of the Gulf Coast, particularly those of south Louisiana, where restoration projects could have a direct impact on our future ability to live here.</p><p>The amount of money is likely to be significant. The fines are expected by some to range from $5 billion to $20 billion. No formula for how much of the 80 percent would go to each state has been formulated, but the distribution will surely benefit Louisiana, where so much of the spill's damage was concentrated.</p><p>Louisiana's share of the money could be used as a down payment on a long-term coastal-restoration plan, one that will likely require tens of billions of dollars to achieve real progress on protecting the people along our coast from future storms and rising waters.</p><p>The outlook for the larger bill — a measure laying out energy policy for the nation — is bleak. The White House has promised a veto even if it is passed by the Senate.</p><p>However, the larger story for Louisiana is that the amendment has been met with success. That means it could be attached to some future bill or perhaps survive a vote on its own.</p><p>The battle for the money will not be quick. Nor will the fight to protect and rebuild Louisiana's coast.</p><p>In the meantime, it is good to know that there are encouraging signs of valuable progress.</p><p><i>Editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper, not of any individual.</i></p>